Track-joint.



H. A. MYERS.

TRACK JOINT. I

APPLICATION FILED 18513.16, 1908.

9 1 4,443 Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

I 1: mamas PETERS cm. wuumcran, c,

IIUBERT A. MYERS, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA.

TRACK-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 9, 1909.

Application filed March 16, 1908. Serial No. 421,520.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT A. MYERS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Goshen, Elkhart county, Indiana, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Track-Joints, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Hy invention relates to track joints in general, but more particularlyto the double steel tracks used in barns or other places for unloadinghay, said tracks being suspended in the loft, or in some other overheadposition, to provide a way along which the haycarrier can travel, in theusual and well known manner.

My invention cont-era lates a joint of improved construction, a apted tobe manufactured at a comparatively small cost, and having rovisions forfacilitating the hanging or insta lation of the track, as well as forrendering the same strong and rigid and otherwise satisfactory in use.

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a track jointembodying the principles of my invention, the parts thereof being shownseparated. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the parts assembled inplace. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the oint shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa cross section on line 4- 4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective of thekey or locking block by which the two interlocking sections of the jointare held in place. Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the interlockingportions of the said joint.

As thus illustrated, my invention comprises parallel angle irons A andB, the former longer than the latter. The angle irons C and D areadapted to extend in continuation of said other angle irons, the iron Cbeing shorter than the iron D. When these two sections of the joint arebrought together, said angle irons are adapted to provide two parallel,continuous tracks or ways upon which the wheels of the haycarrier cantravel. The irons A and B are spaced apart and rigidly connected by anI-block E, and the irons (I and D are similarly united by an I-block F.The iron A is provided at its end with an I-block G, which extends forhalf its length beyond the end of the said iron. On the other section ofthe joint the iron D is provided with a similar I-block H. It will beobserved that the inner ends of said blocks G and H are beveled orinclined. The distance between the end of the block G and the end of theiron B is suliicient to admit the block II, and the distance between theblock H and the end of the iron C is adapted to admit the block G, whenthe two sections of the joint are brought together. By forcing the twosections together endwise, the block G is then forced into the spacebetween the irons A, C and D, and the block H is forced into the spacebetween the irons A and B, as shown in Fig. 2. The key I, which isslightly tapered, is then inserted between the ends of the blocks G andH, as shown. Thus the two sections of the joint are rigidly interlocked,and a cotter pin 1) inserted in the opening 2 holds the key in place. Itwill be understood that hangers can be employed for supporting thedouble steel track in place. My improved joint has the important advantage of making each section of the track self-sustaining as soon asit is coupled to the section already suspended in position, and beforeand while the hangers for the last or new section are being fastened inplace. This is so, of course, assuming that the railsections are not toolong. A track thus constructed is easily adjusted in position for use,and is comparatively cheap to manufacture. In use it provides a smoothand continuous way along which the wheels of the hay-carrier can travel.

The joint comprises, it will be seen, two double track sections, eachsection having ends of unequal length, so that the sections lap when puttogether. For example, the ends of the tracks A and B are of unequallength, and the same is true of C and D, with the result that A lapsover D when the joint is closed. The interlocking portions G and II aresecured to the longer ends of the two sections, and engage inside of theshorter ends when the joint is assembled.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination of angle irons, means for spacing the same apart,interlocking I- blocks on said irons, and a key inserted between theends of said blocks to hold the same between the angle irons.

2. In a track-joint, a pair of shoulders facing each other, adapted tomove toward each other to permit separation of the joint, and a keyinserted between said shoulders to prevent endwise separation of thejoint.

8. In a track-j0int, two interlocking sections, and a key interposedvertically therein to prevent endwise separation of said joint.

4. In a track-joint, two I-blocks, means for embracing the sides of saidblocks to prevent lateral displacement thereof, and means preventingmovement of said blocks toward each other.

5. A joint for a double steel track, comprising blocks insertiblebetween the two sides of the track to prevent lateral and verticaldisplacement thereof, and means for preventing movement of said blockstoward each other.

6. A joint for a double steel track, comprising angle irons of unequallength, an 1- blook secured upon the inner side of the end of eachlonger angle iron, each block beinga distance away from the end of theshorter 7 angle iron to permit the other block to pass between the same,.a key inserted between the ends of said blocks to hold the latter infor holding the said key in place.

7. The improved double steel track joint, provided with lappinginterlocking portions, and removable means for locking said ortionsagainst movement toward each ot er,

substantially as shown and described.

8. In a track joint, two sections of double track, each section havingthe track at one side extending farther from the end thereof than at theother, so that the two sections lap, and means for holding said lappingsec- 7 tions in alinement.

9. In a track joint, two sections of double track, each section madewith ends of unequal length, and an interlocking portion for the longerend of each section, each inter locking portion engaging. inside of theV

